EXTRUDED SOYBEAN IN PIG FEEDING IN THE NURSERY PHASE: PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Currently, in the current production systems of pig farming, the objective is to decrease the weaning age in order to increase the productivity of the matrix, that is, increase the number of piglets produced. Weaning causes several problems due to the stress of separation, affecting weight gain and causing gastroenteric disorders in addition to behavioral problems in the daycare center. Thus, one should seek a diet based on palatable ingredients with high digestibility with good availability of nutrients, not after weaning pigs. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the substitution of soybean meal by extruded whole soybean in the feeding of pigs in the nursery phase. Thirty-six piglets (Landrace x Large White) with 45 days, weighing an average of 11.36 ±0,42 kg, distributed in a randomized block design, with three treatments and six replicates with three animals in each bay. In the control treatment (T1) basal feed was provided to the animals with 0% extruded soybean replacement (ES), treatment two (T2) obtained the substitution level of 10% of ES inclusion and treatment three (T3) 20% of ES substitution. The feed and water were provided at will to the piglets during the 21 days of the experiment. The variables analyzed were: average weight, feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion. The levels of ureatic activity, ether extract, crude protein, protein solubility, and volatile moisture of extruded soybean were verified. A mean test was performed using the Tukey test at a significance level of 5%. No significant difference was found (P>0.05) between the inclusion levels of extruded soybean in piglet diets in the nursery phase, according to the variables studied. The processing of extruded whole soybean did not affect its digestibility. Extruded soybean can be a possible substitute for the soybean meals used in piglet feeding during the nursery phase, without affecting the performance of the animals.